Handheld?

[ChrisPlatt]

Without a camera support I can get sharp results with my Pentax 35mm SLR with normal/WA lens down to 1/60 second.

How slow can you handhold your medium format SLR and still get sharp results? Please be honest...

TIA,
Chris

[mithrandir]

1/15 second.

[yurihuta]

1/60th - I am quite confident with this speed. 1/30th requires I use great technique, no errors. If I have not had coffee, more confident at 1/30th.

This is assuming I am standing. If I am in a crouch and can use my bent legs as further support, 1/15th is well within reach.

I find the Pentax 645 the be really close to 35mm with motor drive size, so if you can do it with a 35mm camera, I suspect you should be able to replicate this with 645.

[Wheatfield]

With my 6x7 and the 105mm lens I can shoot to ~1/30th second.
The 6x7 has the advantage of extra weight and less image magnification to show camera shake though. I suspect the lighter 645 won't handhold as well.
There has long been a myth that it is harder to handhold a medium format camera steady than a small format. The problem with these sorts of lies is that they keep getting repeated over and over by people who don't know what they are talking about until it is accepted as fact.
The fact is, medium format is easier to handhold than 35mm or smaller formats.

[desertscape]

I would have to agree with Wheatfield on this. The 35mm to 150mm can be shot at 1/15 sec if you are careful. However 1/30 is a safer speed. The 165 and 200 can be shot at 1/60 sec. The 300, 400 and 600 at 1/125 sec.

[tuco]

I have a waist level finder on my 67. One technique is to just let it hang from my neck resting against my body, look down to compose and without touching the camera take the shot with a cable release. It is pretty steady that way. And 1/30th is not too much of a concern with a normal and wide lens. I'll only go slower if I'm desperate.

[Ivan J. Eberle]

1/8s with the 35mm SMC-A f/3.5, but I typically fire off a couple of extras and don't count on them all being prizewinners.